An open letter to the person who murdered Jodi Huisentruit

This open letter is a request for you to seriously consider that day in June of 1995 when you abducted Jodi Huisentruit from the parking lot of her apartment on Kentucky Ave in Mason City, Iowa. I will remind you of some of your actions and what the terrible silence has been like for Jodi’s family. They want to know where you disposed of her body and how that small bit of information can help in their efforts to find closure.

Your actions

I will remind you of some of actions you took before, during, and after that horrible event.

First of all, you waited in the parking lot for her to emerge from her apartment. You were there quite early because you knew Jodi usually left for work shortly after 3 am. On this morning it was imperative to abduct her even if you had to wait until the sun came up. You could see that her lights came on about the time Amy Kuns called her from the TV station. Jodi rushed around her apartment to get dressed and to put her hair dryer, makeup and other essentials into a bag.

You may have had a partner. You were waiting from a concealed position as you saw her lights go out in her apartment. The lights going out was the cue for the other person to come into the parking lot and load her into another vehicle after you rendered her helpless. Jodi did manage some screams as heard by many people living in the apartment building. She screamed again then any shouts were muted. A name was heard.

You dragged her backwards down the center of the parking bumpers with her heels dragging in the dirt of the pavement. By now you could have read a book by the rising sun. Very risky. Someone claims they saw you put her body into the waiting vehicle and then leave the parking lot to the south. There might have been a partner in another vehicle that left to the north.

Another person might have been in her apartment that night and has been afraid to come forward.

You were at her apartment earlier that evening when you went up the stairs and banged on Jodi’s door; “Jodi, open the door I know you’re in there.”

Are you sure you picked up all of Jodi’s belongings?

Did you make a mistake and lose something of your own? You waited a long time in that parking lot. There must be something.

If you acted alone you have a better chance of keeping your secret. If you had a partner somebody else knows everything.

If you were alone you might have been in her apartment before and knew what time she would be coming out and to try and talk to you about their relationship.

Did Jodi slap you?

Did Jodi brush you off?

Did Jodi die as an accident?

Maybe you did not intend to kill her?

Did you lose control?

Did you grab her from behind and choke her to death?

What was so important that you took her body to the waiting vehicle?

Why take her appointment book? Was there something incriminating in it?

Chances are you have bragged about your crime.

Is someone you consider a friend willing to tell the whole story?

If you are an acquaintance you need to think seriously about your actions.

If you are a relative, spouse, or significant other, you might have noticed changes in your spouse or friend after the abduction.

Did this person show an interest in the Huisentruit abduction at a higher level than normal level?

Did this person make frequent trips to a location that might have been the burial site of Jodi?

Have you, as a spouse, relative, or friend noticed any jewelry and momentos hidden in boxes or bags?

Does this person exhibit any strange behavior on the anniversary of her abduction?

Are you frightened by this person?

There is a good chance that the guilty party is dead. In which case you can come forward and tell authorities what your suspicions are.

There is also the possibility that this person is in failing health. Please encourage this person to come forward and “clear the books” as such.

This can be ended after all these years. If you are still alive, please give the family the information of where their daughter and sister is disposed of. If you knew someone who might have done it, please call authorities immediately.

On the anniversary of Jodi’s abduction there continues to be reminders of how long it has been since that terrible day in 1995. This year was no exception. One can stand in the parking lot at 4 am and other than the occasional car going by on Kentucky Avenue there are very few apartments that show that the occupants are up and getting ready to go to work. The parking lot is full with each resident going to their assigned parking places.

Two questions

When I first started with this case I asked two questions of law enforcement:

What was so important about this morning and why the abduction had to be accomplished today?

Why was Jodi’s body taken from the scene?

Despite thousands of hours the Investigators of Mason City Police Department have not lost interest in this case.

Gary is a co-founder of FindJodi.com. He's a Death Scene Investigator and Missing Person Consultant. He is a long time investigative reporter that has been working on the Jodi Huisentruit case since 2003. Gary has nearly 40 years of experience as a News Director and Investigative Reporter.

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I am again seeing this show on Investigative ID Channel in July 2014. I am very distressed to see that nothing has come of this case. I sincerely hope closure can come to the family regarding their beloved family member.

I just watched ‘Disappeared’ on ID and heard all about Jodi’s case. I wasn’t even alive when Jodi was abducted. I hope you find who did this to her & finally get some closure!♡

Alin

It’s funny that nobody mentioned anything about the Police Involvement in this Jodi DISSAPEREANCE. I am sorry for what the family must of gone trough and I can’t even imagine all the nightmares they’ve went trough. The police department employees are involved in it. The supposedly suicide by her friend that Jodi street investigating, the death of both people that said they knew the cops were involved, yet the drug overdose With NO Drugs IN THE system and police falsifying the at autopsy reports on both casses. Common, it doesn’t take a genius to see that certain police employees were involved. Hey how about this theory; the two guys that end up dead and bragged they knew that some of the cops were involved had mentioned something and everything to somebody posting and looking into this case. It’s not over and the truth will come out. This won’t be no JFK cover up and people will forget. It will come out!!

FormerlyMQ

It’s called the blue wall of silence -huge problem and more common than you think. My money’s on dirty cops. Figure out what cop had a reason to ice that guy who bought the tractor, and you have your killers. Start with those individuals filing those ridiculous autopsy reports. Lean on them HARD. They are the weak link.

Chelsea Haelsen

I just saw the show on ID channel today on disappeared. This whole situation is tragic and I hope out of everything that happened and is happening that you one day find Jodi and finally get the comfort of knowing where she is. To the the family, I’m sincerely sorry about the loss of a I’m sure great daughter and awesome sister. I wish your family the best of luck :)

Bruce Hunter

I still think it’s someone who knew her. I was a newscaster in radio and TV (I’m the wife:) drove a blue Mazda miata, worked same shift, we are the same age. I had stalkers and threats ( in some cases person arrested) motive usually sexual. My most dangerous stalker was a tv news director who anonymously threatened to rape me. He was arrested and charged with 7 counts of aggregated sexual harassment etc. this was someone she knew!! Look at ppl at station, look at Jon last person to see her alive. Have him take another lie detector test NOW , compare results. Look at some of her “so called ” friends. This case frustrates me!! I think it was definitely two people, and she was driven out if state and dumped in a river. (The body. ) Also those neighbors are idiots, Not one called 911, shame on them.

Timothy Phillips.

i saw Jodi s story on Disappeared . and how very sad the story is . Maybe after all these years the killer or killers can just tell the family were the bidy is . So the family can have some closure . and lay the little body to rest . i think that that would help the family to some sort of peace .

Aurora Steinberg

I get frustrated everytime I think of Jodi’s case. If I was part of Mason City police department I wouldn’t rest until the case was solved. Vansice needs to be looked at again as he hasn’t been ruled out. Every single person connected with Jodi needs to be looked at again.Why was such a beautiful young woman taken like that.

Alyssa Salcido

I definitely believe that the person or persons who were responsible for Jodi’s disappearance did have contact with her prior to the abduction. This would make the most sense because people who usually stalk and abduct their victims know their daily routine. Jodi seems like the type of person to keep her personal life under wraps- so if she had a stalker or was sent anonymous letters, maybe she thought that she could handle the situation by herself. I also believe that anyone who had contact with Jodi at any point in her life should be re-investigated. I know that the inside of her apartment was probably not swabbed for DNA, but I think it could be useful in case the perpetrator(s) was/were someone she knew. I’m surprised that the items left behind by Jodi or evidence at the crime scene outside of Jodi’s apartment turned up no leads. I can see how frustrating this case must be not only to investigators but to Jodi’s family and friends as well who have spent years and years waiting for answers. Good luck with the rest of the investigation and I hope that justice comes very soon.

Lawrence e.

I am watching the JH story on OWN…first I’ve heard about this case and googled her name and found this site. I already got my interest peaked about Jon, the friend. They showed an interview with him toward beginning of show, and I quote ” Jodi meant the world to me….”. Why did he use ” meant”.., past tense, sine this interview was supposedly only a couple days after kidnapping. Rest of interview he uses “means”, etc, but that one slip up, gave me pause.

Bree

Just saw this tonight on 20/20 on OWN. I think it was someone who was obsessed with her and fixated on her due to her presence on the news. Clearly they stalked her & knew her patterns. Why did they wait for her on that date, a day she was running late? Did this person psych themselves up to do it THAT day? Who knows. No way this was random. It was planned, it was someone from the area. I hope the family finds some answers soon. Too sad.

DMM

I remember when this happened and I’ve seen some of the articles and programs on Jodi’s case through the Years and I do hope that new info will come to light and help solve this case! My heart goes out to her family, I hope they get the closure they truly need very soon!
To the person responsible for Jodi’s disappearance, you are nothing but a coward!!! probably the only time in your life of doing the right thing would be to turn yourself in! I don’t think you have the guts! I hope you rot in hell!

Brooke Utah

I’m praying that the family gets answers so that they can have closure. The only comfort here is that such a kind sweet soul is surely in a better place, and most likely has been since soon after she was taken. I dearly hope she didn’t suffer; I’m so sorry for this poor family. I wouldn’t wish this situation on anyone.

Shanta

I saw this last year on the id channel I think it was someone who new her or someone who was watching her who new what time she usually leaves for work check out the older guy she was friends with he seems like he knows more then what he is saying or what about the case she was investigating about the man she knew she was threaten by police officers regarding the case or what about the people she was working with she was moving up and very popular it could have been somebody she worked with who was jealous of her success but I do think it was someone close to her

ANNA WENNERHOLM

i also worked as a talk show host and reporter and recived many threats due to the fact i was straight forward with my belives, my sexual orientation and adopting a black son from Kenya.
After a few yrs it came out that the worst threats came from a so called friend since many yrs and also from a far relative, i don´t know but the more i read about this case i am compelled to say, it was someone she knew or had been in contact with, i pray for the family that you will recive answers soon, B SAFE, Anna

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